Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-12-30
A PAIR OF WEDDINGS
BY ROSE TERRY COOKE.


spectacles at pretty Nanny Campbell,
who sat at her feet on an old-fashioned
Cricket" the blaze of the omen fire
playing on her bright, blushing face,
and lending a richer shade of gold to the
crown of fluffy hair that hid her white
forehead.
Nanny had come up to Traverse from
Boston to spend the day with her grand
parents. Her father and mother could
not leave till the next morning. DR..
Campbell was too busy a man to spare
more than day from his practice; and
Nanny was glad to come alone for she
had great piece of news to tell grand
ma. Yes, with deeper glow than the
freight on her dropping face, she i'm
parted the wonderful intelligence that
she was engaged to Jack Norton, and
was going to be married on Christmas.
Now grandma was not really much sur
prised, for Jack Norton was the son of
DR.. Campbell's Oldest and best friend,
and the children had known each other
always. Grandma, with the forecasting
wisdom of old ladies, had prophesied to
herself this result years ago, yet she
thought she was surprised to find her
prophecy 1ulnlled.
They had been engaged several
months but Nanny had not announced
the fact to any but her father and
mother. She was both shy and cautious,
so she waited to tell grandma until the
wedding day was set.
Grandma was ready with congratula-
tions; yet, as she drew the fair young
head down to her knee and stroked the
bright hair with tremulous fingers, she
sighed, for she had lived too long not to
dread life for the child she loved so well.
'I'm kinder pleased" she contided 70
grandpa, in that "grand committee of
two" which married people hold on mat
tiers that interest them or their neighbor',
''and Pm kinder distressed too. | don't
like his bein' a lawyer; It never seemed
as though twas reliable business, nor
one tibet a real honest, straightforward
man could foller."
"Well," said grandpa, thoughtfully,
you've got to take things by and large
Elviry-by and large. There's some lyin'
in all business. You don't sell all the
big p'tatoes nor all the sound apples in
the same barrel eff you're farmer, nor
you don't tell man how old your crit
tiers be-not to y. Do you s'posc
Tatum sells his dry goods an groceries
on the square always? Don't we get poor
drugs for high prices down to Dean'si
An come to fine it down, Parson Pitcher
don't write sermon every week, now
tell We. There's sulhin' bad to every
thing; faint heaven on earth down to
Bosting, no more'n tits here to Traverse. "
"WelI, | dom know as It's" replied
grandma, with sigh.
And while Nanny was busting round
in the kitchen the next morning, stirring
cold milk into the Indian pndding that
had the great oven to itself, basting the
huge turkey in the rooster, garnshing
the tongues, keeping an eye on the
chicken pie that stood Oh tripod in the
chimney corner to keep it hot after it
had been drawn from the aforesaid oven,
and doing for grandma all the little odds
and ends that are so much work for old
people and SO little for young ones,
grandma was revolving in her mind GER
tain good counsels for the girl, which
might or might not be accepted and
acted upon; for grandma had old-fash.
Toned ideas She spoke at last, her fin.
gers meanwhile busy pairing potatoes fol
the pot that stood bubbling to receive
them:
$50 you're goin' to be married New
Years Day, be you, Nanny2"
"No, dear-New Years Eve"
''Seems pretty cold time for a wed
din, said grandma, taking up another
potato.
"Well, yes. Jack would not wait til
June, when / wanted to have it; he sale
he never believed in long engagements
And mother thinks just so; that is
where people have known each other a,
long as Jack and have"
"Goin' to be married in church,
s'pose2"
"Oh, yes and then reception. Nov
you and grandpa must come down;
want you promise"
"We're Almost too old and too rheu
maticky, Nanny, to go junketin' round
in midwinter."
''No, you're not-not q bit. The car
are warm, and mother III have q fire il
your room; and it's going to be such
pretty weddingl Six bridesmaids
granny; all of them pretty girls, too, il
low dresses of lace and pink satin, will
roses and short wells of tulle. They'll
look just lovely. And DR.. Adams
remember Everett Adams, who studied
with father-he's to be best man."
"Land!' calculated grandma. {"
should think Jack would be the best maj
amongst EN-"
"Well," laughed Nanny, with blusl
that would have been the precise tint TO
her bridesmaids dresses, II think he is
but that isn't what they call him."
'And what is low dresses2" querieC
grandma.
ooh, low-necked, and with no sleeves
just strap across the shoulder yo1
know"
"Good graciousl" exclaimed the oil
lady, looking over her spcctacles with
glare of horror. 81 should think tina
was low'l Dreadful low, too They,
ought to be 'shamcd of theirsclves!"
"Why, gran, it's the fashion"
81 don't care nothing about that, child
1t amt decent, nor it amt pretty. VIII
wants to see them gills' bones7 and girl
in these days haven't got much more
skin and bones"
"Grandma, l do think you're dread
full Why, Alice Brooks has got nee
and arms like a baby; and Rosina Leay
tits are lovely too, if she is littl
dark"
"Wcll, anyway call it cruelty to an
imals to hev them girls 60 out in tha
condition of cold winters night into
big draughty church. Be you goil
low too"
"Oh, mol It's not the fashion fc
brides I'm goin' to have white satr
high to the throat and down to tn
wrists, with beautiful lace all about it. y